#1Famous people · Centerville
16 famous people were born in Centerville, more of them writers and artists than in most towns
At the top of the list is the American opera singer Simon Estes, covered in 11 languages. The American actor Claude Payton ranks second, ahead of Richard Dudman. Most were born in the age of mills and railroads: 9 of them. Only 27 of the 438 towns in Iowa with anyone on record list more.
Born here
16
notable people
Best known
Simon Estes
in 11 Wikipedia languages
First
1871
Stephen A. Martin
Youngest
1966
Bobby Hoffman
Most common field
Writing & Arts
6 people
What stands out about Centerville’s famous people
★ What stands out · Known for
What Centerville is known for
No other field is as far above the usual share as writers and artists, at 3.7 times.
The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.
The best known
Born in Centerville
Three names lead: Simon Estes (11 languages), Claude Payton (9) and Richard Dudman (7).
#1
#2RD#3
Through the years
When Centerville’s famous people were born
More were born in the 1910s than in any other decade: 4.
Writing & ArtsPolitics & LawFilm, TV & StageSportsMusic
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Centerville
13 more, from 1871 to 1966.
The town’s pick
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From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Centerville and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.
Photo credits (6)
- Simon Estes: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Claude Payton: Jesse D. Hampton Productions / Pathé Exchange, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Harry J. Middleton: Photo credit: Frank Wolfe, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Edna May Spooner: No photographer credited., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Manuel Bromberg: Charles Eisenman, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- H.N. Swanson: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons